NoTeNones

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TVBot, programing the TV with Jabber

Using the work done by Thomas Perl with jabberBot, wrote in Python, I developed a jabber bot that allows me to program my PC to record TV programs.

In contrast with jabberbot, that is command-based, TVBot can accept natural language. It is based on a finite state atomaton that can be defined in a text file. Each state has a text, an action and one or more transitions. Each transition is associated with a function that acts like a condition. If the user’s input satisfy the function’s needs, it will return True and the transition will be executed.

The bot mantains a conversation in wich it request the needed data to program the record. It ask for a TV channel, start time, day and duration. At the moment only the TV channels allow synonymous, they can be specified in a text file.

Depndencies

- xmppy (In Debian is the package python-xmpp)

Documentation

The only documentation availabe is in the comments of the script. You can also contact me by e-mail

Download

Current version is 0.31 (Packaged 19th january 2009)

Changelog

02/11/2008 First version
19/01/2008 Added new comments in english

Language

The bot sentences are in spanish.
The file prueba.auto.ENG contains an English translation of the Finite State Automaton and its sentences.

If you are using this bot to program records in another country, please send me your “canales.txt” file. I will include it in the package.

Example dialog

me:  hello
BOT:  Hello, how may I help you?
me:  i want to record a tv program
BOT: Give me the program info. I need to know the TV channel, the start time, day and month of broadcast and the duration of the program.
me:  is the 14 at 13:45 in telecinco
BOT:  Sorry, I still need this information:
duration
me:  02:15:00
BOT:  Do you want to define a filename to save the program?
me:  yes, store it in example.avi
BOT:  Ok, I have everything I need, I will program your record.